Tube-expander.



No. 817,089. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906. W. NICHOLSON, Jn.

TUBE EXPANDER.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 15,1905.

'UNITED srnrns PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAM NICHOLSON, JR., OFWILKES-BARRE, PENN SYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO WM. H. NICHOLSON & CO., OF VILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, A

FIRM.

TUBE-EXPANDER.

I Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM NICHOLSON, Jr., a citizen oi the United States, residing at Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube- Expanders, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to eXpanders for the tubes of boilers and other similar pipes; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view oi' the tube-expander. Fig. 2 is an end view of the tube-expander. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the rollers, showing a portion of the retaining-disk in section. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the retaining-disk. Fig. 5 is a detail side View of the releasing-collar. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a roller, showing a modification. Fig. 7 shows a second modification of one of the rollers.

A is a tapered arbor or spindle provided at its larger end with a screw-threaded portion b. The arbor has also holes C in its lar 'er end portion and terminates in a rectangu ar portion C. These holes and the rectangular or square part are for the purpose of applyin@ tools for revolvin the arbor.

'i3 is e retaining-dis which is sudati@ over the tapered arbor and which is provided with a series of radial slots or sockets d.

E represents expanding-rollers provided at one `end portion with bearings F, which are j ournaled freely in the said slots or sockets, so that the rollers can move freely to a limited extent in all directions. preferably ball-shaped, and the sockets d are undercut in spherical form, so that the rollers are connected to the disk by universal joints.

G is the releasing-collar which is screwed upon the screw-threaded portion b of the arbor. This collar is provided with two rojecting arms g, having serrations 71, on t eir ends.

The rollers E may be formed taperin as shown in Fig. 6, instead of being paralle as shown in Fig. 3, and the rollers may have parallel necks F', which are loosely journaled in the slots of the retainingdisk, ii desired.

The bearings F are The rollers E or E may also have rounded necks f, if desired, as shown in Fig. 7, instead of having globular or spherical shaped ends or parallel necks.

Any desired number of rollers maybe used, and it is preferable to use as many rollers as the size of the tubes to be expanded will permit. The rollers are laced in the end portion of the tube and tiie tapered arbor is revolved and pressed into the tube. The frictional contact of the parts causes the rollers to be inclined so that the arbor is self-feeding. The position ofthe releasing-collar is adjusted by revolving it on the arbor. When the arms of the collar strike the flue-sheet of the boiler, the serrati'ons engage with the fluesheet and the arbor is bac red out, thereby releasing the rollers from engagement with the tube and permitting* the tool to be withdrawn with facility. Tlie release of the rollers is brought about by the left-hand arrangement of the screw-threads on the arbor, t e said arbor being preferably revolved to the right. Iii, however, the arbor is to be re-- j volved to the left, the screw-threads are cut to the right, so as to eiiect the release of the rollers at the desired point. The releasingcollar also operates as a gage, so that all the tubes are expanded equally.

What I claim isl. In a tube-expander, the combination, with a tapered arbor provided with a screwthreaded ortion, of a slidable retaining-disk, a series o expanding-rollers for enga ing the tube, said rollers being carried by t e said disk around the said arbor, and a releasingcollar engaging with the said screw-threaded portion and provided with means for engaging the tube-plate whereby the said collar 1s held stationary.

2. In a tube-expander, the combination, with a tapered arbor having a screw-threaded portion at its larger end, of a retaining-disk slidable on the said arbor, a series ofexpanding-rollers carried by the said disk, and a re'-A leasing-collar engaging with the said screw-4 threaded portion and provided with arms which project longitudinally over the tapering part of the arbor.

3. In a tube-expander, the combination, with a tapered arbor provided with a screwthreaded portion at its larger end, of a retaining-disk slidable on the arbor and provided with a series ol? radialv slots, a series of exroo panding-rollers provided With bearings which are journaled in the said slots, and a releasing-collar engaging With the said screwthreaded portion and provided with arms which project longitudinally over the tapering part of the arbor.

4. In a tube-expander, the combination, with a tapered arbor provided With a screwthreaded orton, of a slidable retaining-disk, a series o expanding-rollers for engaging the tube, said rollers being connected with the said disk by ball-and-sooket joints, and a releasing-Collar engaging With the said screwthreaded portion and provided with means for engaging the tube-plate whereby the said collar is held stationary In testimony whereof I haveaHiXed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. WILLIAM NICHOLSON, JR.

Witnesses:

GEORGE NIoHoLsoN, A. L. TURNER. 

